Arizona lawmaker says delivery of F-35s to Luke delayed by 18 months
May 13, 2019, 4:45 AM | Updated: 7:51 pm
(Facebook Photo/Luke Air Force Base )
(Facebook Photo/Luke Air Force Base )
PHOENIX — U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko of Arizona said Thursday that an expected delivery of F-35s to Luke Air Force Base will be delayed from summer 2022 to winter 2023.
“Today, the Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, called to inform me that delivery of the fifth squadron of F-35s to Luke Air Force Base will be delayed by 18 months due to construction,” Lesko said in statement.
“I was assured by her that Luke AFB will receive all six F-35 squadrons and that no jobs will be impacted. Rest assured that I will always fight to protect Luke AFB and will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the Pentagon to ensure these commitments are fulfilled.”
Lesko’s district includes the Air Force base about 20 miles northwest of Phoenix.
Today, the Secretary of the Air Force called to inform me that delivery of the fifth squadron of F-35s to Luke Air Force Base will be delayed by 18 months due to construction. I was assured by her that Luke AFB will receive all six F-35 squadrons and that no jobs will be impacted
— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) May 10, 2019
A Luke Air Force Base spokesman told the Arizona Republic that the delay will reduce congestion while the base carries out its F-35A ramp reconfiguration construction project.
U.S. Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona said she was displeased by the delay but that the construction project is worthwhile.
“I am disappointed that the Air Force is delaying delivery of the next F-35 training squadron to Luke,” Sen. Martha McSally said in a statement.
“However, expanding this runway is a significant and valuable increment in the future of the base and will alleviate congestion for F-35 training mission(s) for decades into the future. I have been personally been assured by Sec. Wilson that Luke will still receive 6 F-35 training squadron as previously planned.”
RELATED STORIES
As of February, the base had 85 F-35s on site with plans to eventually reach a total of 144 jets.
Luke is one of two Air Force bases where the Air Force trains F-35 pilots. Eglin Air Force Base in Florida is the other. Other Air Force bases where F-35s are flown include Nellis in Nevada and Hill in Utah.
Luke’s role in training F-35 pilots is ramping up as it phases out its F-16 program. The base had 77 F-16s in February after dropping from a peak of more than 200.
Luke trains pilots from around the world, including from Australia, Norway, Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
